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Jülich, 21 February 2017 – Scientists have long been searching for a suitable solution to integrate optical components onto a computer chip. However, silicon and germanium alone – the material basis of chip production – are ill-suited as a light source. Together with international partners, Jülich physicists have now presented a diode which in addition to silicon and germanium also contains tin, thus improving its optical properties. And what makes this diode special? It consists solely of elements of main group IV, meaning they are fully compatible with the existing silicon technology.